Ratchet mechanism



L. E. KILNESS Feb. 20, 1968 Filed Sept. 26, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. LUTHER E. K/LNESS A TTOR/VEYS Feb. 20, 1968 1.. E. KILNESS 3,359,415

RATCHET MECHANISM Filed Sept. 26, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet :3

IN V EN TOR.

LUTHER E. K/LNESS ATTORNEKS United States Patent 17 Claims. (Cl. 74-157) This invention relates to ratchet mechanisms and more particularly to ratchet wrenches. This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior application Serial No. 837,259 filed August 31, 1959, now US. Patent No. 3,044,591, which is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 636,255 filed Jan. 25, 1957, now abandoned, which is a continuation of my application Serial No. 532,984 filed Sept. 7, 1955, now abandoned, and which is further a continuation of my application Serial No. 245,481 filed Sept. 7, 1951, now abandoned.

Numerous attempts have been made in the ratchet art, as applied to hand tools in particular, to provide improvements in the ratchet mechanism which will permit the use of a more compact wrench. These attempts have not been entirely successful since in reducing the size of the working part of the wrench the prior art workers have continued to use a conventional pawl of the fixed-pivot type. Generally such pawls are made with two or three teeth which engage only a small percentage of the ratchet teeth.

It is desirable that the ratchet mechanism have a relatively large number of ratchet teeth to provide a maximum number of ratchet positions and that the pawl engage a substantial percentage thereof in order to distribute the stresses over a larger area. The distribution of the stress over a larger area reduces the requirements for localized mechanical strength. of the parts andpermits a further reduction in the physical size of the working portion of the wrench.

As has been found by the prior art workers, the mere increasing of the number of teeth on a conventional fixedpivot pawl will not produce the desired result because such a pawl cannot be seated adequately when provided with a large number of teeth. Proper and adequate seating of a fixed-pivot pawl having a large number of teeth is not practical with the present state of the art.

A pawl having a large number of teeth is disclosed in my Patent No. 2,554,990 issued May 29, 1951, along with pawl controls which enable all of the pawl teeth to be used effectively for both driving directions. While the pawl disclosed in my patent has been found satisfactory for the intended use and represented a considerable advance certain limitations are present in the ease of construction and the ease of reversal.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved ratchet mechanism of the type first shown in my Patent No. 2,554,990.

Another important object of this invention is to provide an improved ratchet mechanism having more efficient controls for the type of pawl shown in Patent No. 2,554,990. The controls for the pawl include any manually operable elements and various elements and members acting between the pawl and pawl-carrying body and which coact to urge the pawl into ratcheting or directional driving engagement with opposing teeth.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved ratchet mechanism and controls therefor permitting ease of reversal of ratcheting direction and which is of simplified construction permitting ease of construction and manufacture of a wrench having a rugged, compact, and eflicient design.

For a better understanding of the present invention,

ice

together with other and further objects thereof, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a transverse sectional view of the head of a ratchet wrench according to the invention with parts broken away to conserve space and with a part of the internal structure being shown in section;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a portion of the ratchet mechanism according to the invention, to an enlarged scale, showing another arrangement of essential parts;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken substantially through the center of the head of the wrench of FIGURE FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view of the head of a single acting wrench according to the invention with portions broken away to conserve space;

FIGURE 5 shows a modification of a portion of the control of FIGURES 1 and 2, wherein the ratcheting parts are substantially linear, and the control element or member operatively connecting the pawl to the manually operable reversing means is essentially rigid; and,

FIGURE '6 is a plan view of a portion of the ratchet mechanism according to the invention of another modification, wherein the ratcheting parts are substantially linear and the control element engaging the pawl is laterally resilient.

Referring to the drawings, FIGURES 1 and 3 show a ratchet wrench which includes a body member 10 provided with a handle portion 12 which is broken away in the drawing to conserve space. The body member 10 opposite handle portion 12 terminates in an enlarged substantially circular portion having a circular opening 14 therethrough. The surface of opening 14 :is provided with a circular series of radially extending ratchet teeth 16. The lands of teeth 16 are preferably formed with small flats for the purpose to be described. Body member 10 may conveniently be referred to as the tooth-carrying body member. A rotatable body member 18, having a portion of essentially cylindrical configuration, is received within opening 14 and journalled on the flats of teeth 16 for relative rotary slidable movement between the confronting surfaces of the body members, i.e., the toothcontaining surface of opening 14 and the peripheral surface of body member 18. A shank 20 is formed on one end of body member 18 for holding interchangeable sockets. A shift cap 22 seals the top of the opening 14 in body member 10. Body member 18 is secured within opening 14 by a split retaining ring 24 which expands into a groove in opening 14 and holds against: an outer flange 26 on body member 18.

A portion of the peripheral surface of body member 18 is cut away' to provide a cavity or recess 28 which is open to or confronts the teeth 16. A pawl 30 is carried within recess 28. The recess 28 and pawl 30 have inclined planar sides which give the recess and pawl an essentially wedge-shaped configuration. The pawl has top and bottom planar surfaces, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3. The pawl has an arcuate side joining the top and bottom surfaces of the pawl which is provided with a plurality of teeth 32 adapted to mate with teeth 16 in concurrent driving engagement therewith. The shape of the side of pawl 30 containing teeth 32 is seen to complement or match the shape of the opening 14 containing teeth 16. The teeth 32 of the pawl and the teeth 16 of the opening have load surfaces inclined away from a radial direction to allow compressional forces to be transmitted directly through the teeth. The recess 28 within body member 18 containing pawl 30 is larger than the pawl to permit a radial withdrawal of the pawl from the teeth in the opening and also to permit circumferential or angular movement or displacement of the pawl with respect to member 18. The action of the pawl 30 is seen to be reversible, with the pawl teeth being used for both ratcheting directions as will be pointed out in further detail as the description proceeds.

The thrust of the pawl 30 is transmitted to member 18 through either of sides or bearing surfaces 34 and 36 of recess 28. The positioning of pawl 30 with respect to sides 34 and 36 is under the control of a shiftable control element or member 38. Each end of the pawl is provided with a bearing surface 40 and 42 engaging sides 34 and 36 of the recess, respectively. The bearing surfaces of the pawl are inclined toward each other in a direction away from the toothed side of the pawl. The sides or bearing surfaces of the recess 28 are spaced farther apart than the bearing surfaces of the pawl and are respectively inclined to match the angle of the engaging pawl bearing surface.

The pawl is provided with a radial recess 44 positioned centrally of the pawl teeth. The recess 44 is located intermediate the top and bottom planar surfaces of the pawl and is accessible from the back of the pawl. The control element 38 has one end which is entered into the recess 44 in the pawl. The recess 44 is seen to be of greater length than the length of the end of the control element 38 received therein in order to permit clearance for the end of the control element 38 within the recess 44 in a radial direction. The radial clearance provided for the end of the control element 38 within the recess 44 permits relative slidable or translatory motion between the pawl and the control element 38 and substantially eliminates any component of force from the control element on the pawl resiliently urging the pawl in a radial direction or directly against the ratchet teeth 16. The control element 38 exerts a force on the walls of the recess 44 in a direction to urge the pawl laterally against either bearing surface 34 or 36. The control element 38 is shown in FIGURE 1 as a spring having a cantilever-type action, or action in a direction which is transverse to the general longitudinal direction of the spring.

The control element 38 is secured to or retained by a manually operable shift-element 46. The shift element 46 acts as an intermediate operative connection between the control element 38 and the body member 18 to permit the control element 38 to act between or operatively interconnect the pawl and the body member 18. The shift element 46 is mounted for rotary movement within a bore or circular recess 48 in the top or upper surface of body member 18. Bore 48 is seen to comprise an upper portion of larger diameter providing a shoulder 50 which acts as a support for element 46. The upper surface of element 46 is provided with a Y shaped groove 52 with the branches of the Y positioned toward pawl 30. The end of control element 38 opposite that engaging pawl 30 is positioned within the leg of the Y groove and is secured against longitudinal displacement by means of a finger 54 on element 38 received in a depression within the Y shaped groove of shift element 46. A channel 55 is cut in that portion of member 18 intermediate shift element 46 and pawl 30 to receive and pass control element 38.

With the shift element 46 in the position shown in FIG- URE 1, the sides of the leg portion of the Y groove apply forces on element 38 tending to rotate same in a clockwise direction, so that the cantilever action of the ele ments 38 resiliently urges bearing surface 42 of pawl 30 into contact with side 36 of recess 28. As shown in FIG- URE 1, the force acting on the pawl from the control element 38 is at an angle to the inclined side 36 of the recess 28. The reaction between the pawl and the inclined side 36 causes the pawl to slide bodily along the side 36 in a direction toward the teeth 16 and urges the pawl into releasable engagement with the teeth 16.

The shift element 46 is held in either of two positions by a detent ball 56 urged by a spring 58 against notches in the lower or smaller diameter portion of shift element 46. A small pin 59 is secured to the body member 18 to hold the spring 58 in a compressed state. The shift element is selectively positioned in either of the two positions by means of shift cap 22 which has a circular recess in the bottom thereof loosely receiving a circular projection 60 on the shift element for holding the shift cap and the shift element together angularly. The shift cap enables the operator to select the ratcheting direction. Manual rotation of the shift cap in a clockwise direction places the control element 38 and pawl 39 in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 for driving the pawl-carrying member 18 clockwise. Rotation of the shift cap in a counterclockwise direction shifts the control element 38 so that the end of the control element 38 engaging the pawl is shifted laterally to a second operative position with respect to the recess 28 to urge pawl bearing surface 40 into contact with recess side 34 and bringing teeth 16 and teeth 32 into engagement for driving the pawl-carrying member in a counterclockwise direction.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 2 operates similarly to that of FIGURES 1 and 3; however, the toothcarrying body member and pawl-carrying body member are interchanged. A body member corresponding to member 10 in FIGURES 1 and 3 terminates in an enlarged circular portion, broken away to conserve space, provided with a circular opening 114 therein. Another body member 118, generally of cylindrical configuration and having a series of radially extending ratchet teeth 116 on the peripheral surface thereof, is journalled for relative rotary slidable movement in opening 114. The lands of teeth 116 are provided with flats which act as a bearing for such movement. The circular opening 114 has a sidewall of essentially cylindrical form provided with a recess 128 in the sidewall thereof which may be positioned at a point of increased mechanical strength such as the juncture of the handle and the enlarged circular portion. The recess 128 has two opposing sides 134 and 136 forming bearing surfaces for receiving thrust. The sides 134 and 136 are inclined toward each other and converge in a direction away from the teeth 116.

A pawl 130 is carried within the recess 128. One side of pawl 130 is provided with a plurality of teeth 132 adapted to mate with teeth 116 of body member 118 in concurrent driving engagement therewith. The arcuate shape of the side of pawl 130 containing teeth 132 is seen to complement the shape of the surface of body mernber 118 containing teeth 116. The teeth 132 of the pawl and teeth 116 of body member 118 have load surfaces inclined away from :a radial direction to allow compressional forces to be transmitted directly through the teeth. The recess 128 in body member 110 containing pawl 130 is larger than the pawl to permit a radial withdrawal of the pawl from the teeth in body member 118 and :also to permit angular movement or displacement of the pawl with respect to member 11 8. The action of the pawl is reversible with the pawl teeth being used for both ratcheting directions. This aspect of the invention is particularly important where the pawl is located on the body member 110.

The use of a single pawl to provide for ratcheting in both directions results in a structure of maximum strength in the minimum amount of space. Applicants invention provides a single pawl with a large number of teeth and improved means for controlling the pawl such that eflicient use is made thereof to provide for ratcheting in either of two directions.

Thrust is transmitted between pawl 130 and member 110 through either of the sides 134 and 136 of recess 128'which have bearing surface areas for engaging the pawl. The positioning of pawl 130 with respect to sides 134 and 136 is determined by the positioning of a control element 138. Each end of pawl 130 is provided with a bearing surface 140 and 142, respectively. The bearing surfaces of the pawl are inclined toward each other and converge in a direction away from the arcuate side of the pawl. As may be seen in FIGURE 2, the bearing surfaces of the pawl do not start at the arcuate side of the pawl but join the terminal end surfaces which extend from the ends of the arcuate side of the pawl. However, the bearing surfaces of the pawl extend substantially from the arcuate side of the pawl and form a predominant portion of the opposing sides of the pawl, which consist of the bearing surfaces of the pawl and the terminal end surfaces. The bearing surfaces of the pawl illustrated in FIGURE 2 correspond in inclination to the engaged bearing surface of the recess 128 when the pawl is in full engagement with the teeth 116 of the body member 1 1 8.

Control element 138 is shown as being flexible and may be a cantilever-type spring, although a rigid construction may be used as will be presently explained. One end of control element 138 is loosely fitted in a centrally positioned radial recess or opening 144 of pawl 138 to resiliently engage the pawl. The other end of control element 138 is secured to a rotatable pin or shift element 146 mounted for rotary movement within a bore or circular recess 148 in the top or upper surface of body member 110 much in the same manner as shift element 46 is mounted. The upper surface of shift element 146 has a Y shaped groove 152 therein positioned with the branches of the Y directed toward pawl 131 The end of control element 138 secured to shift element 146 is positioned within the leg of Y groove 152 and is secured against longitudinal displacement by suitable means. A channel 155 is cut in that portion of member 110 intermediate shift element 146 and pawl 130 to receive and pass control element 138.

With shift element 146 in the position shown, the sides of the leg portion of Y groove 152 apply forces on element 138 tending to rotate same in a clockwise direction, resiliently urging pawl bearing surface 142 into contact with side 136 of recess 128. Due to the interaction of bearing surface 142 and side 136, pawl 130 is moved along the side 1136, causing pawl teeth 132 to mesh and engage with teeth 116 of tooth carrying member 118.

The shift element 146 is held in either of two positions by a detent ball 156 urged by a spring 8 against notches in the lower portion of the shift element. The shift element is selectively positioned in either of the two positions by the manual actuation of a shift arm 122. By movement of shift arm 122, the operator may select the desired ratcheting direction. Rotation of the shift element in a clockwise direction positions control element 138 and pawl 130 as illustrated in FIGURE 2 for driving the tooth-carrying member 118 in a clockwise direction. Rotation of shift element 146 in a counterclockwise direction brings opposite forces to play on control element 138 urging pawl bearing surface 140 into contact with recess side 134 and bringing teeth 116 and teeth 132 into engagement for driving tooth-carrying member 118 in a counterclockwise direction. In the finished device suitable cover means is provided to cover and protect the mechanism while leaving shift arm 122 exposed for manual operation.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, there is illustrated a mechanism utilizing the teaching of the invention showing an arrangement for ratcheting in a single direction a pawl 63 having teeth 61. The pawl teeth 61 are formed along an .arcuate side of the pawl. The pawl 63 has opposing sides which extend from the arcuate side of the pawl and converge in a direction away from the arcuate side of the pawl. This embodiment has a flexible pawl control element 62 in the form of a bar or guide, although the embodiment may be adapted to a non-resilient bar or guide having a resilient placement on a body member 64. One end of control element 62 is slidably fitted into a radial slot 66 in pawl 63 which is pointed or directed toward the :arcuate side of the pawl. In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4, the radial slot or recess 66 has parallel sides closely fitted to the end portion of control element 62. The control element 62 guides or orients the pawl with respect to the envelope of the teeth 16 of body member 10, as shown in FIGURE 4, with one end of the pawl teeth being withheld from engagement with the teeth 16 during the back stroke. At the same time, the slidable action of the control element in the radial slot or recess 66 permits translatoiy motion of the pawl relative to the control element 62 in a direction determined by the end portion of control element 62.

A pin 68 projecting from the topof a body member 64 holds the control element in a predetermined position. The control element is bent away from a normally straight or undeflected position by the pin 68 and is held thereby so that it exerts a counterclockwise force on pawl 63 urging side 70 of the pawl against a bearing surface 72 of a bearing element 73. The bearing surface 72, shown as being formed on separate element 73, may be formed as an integral part of member 64. The bearing surface 72 is inclined at an angle with the radial slot or recess 66 so that the force acting on the. pawl from the control element 62 is directed at an angle to the bearing surface 72. The force acting on the pawl from the control element 62 urges the :pawl against the bearing surface 72 and outwardly into releasable engagement with the teeth 16 of body member 10. As the body member 16 is turned in a counterclockwise direction, the action of the bearing 73 on the pawl overcomes the orientation or guidance given the pawl by the control element 62 to force all of the pawl teeth into full engagement for the driving stroke.

In each of the embodiments shown in FIGURES 1-4, when handle 12 is moved in a non-driving direction, the control element urges the pawl to slide along the bearing surface of the recess and into yieldable engagement with a successive series of teeth on the tooth-carrying body member.

Referring to FIGURES 5 and 6, there is shown a first body member 74 having a substantially fllat edge surface 76. Surface 76 has an interruption therein in the form of a recess 78 having outwardly inclined sides or bearing surfaces 88 and 82. Another body member 84 is mounted on the first body member for slidable movement relative thereto and secured against displacement therefrom by suit-able means. The essentially flat surface of body member 84 confronting body member 74 is provided with a series of teeth 86, the lands of which may provide a hearing. A pawl 88 is positioned within recess 78 with the side toward body member 84 having a number of teeth 90 formed therein. The pawl 88 is smaller than the recess 78 to permit withdrawal of the pawl from the teeth 86 as well as displacement of the pawl in a direction paralleling the envelope of the teeth 86.

The ends of pawl 88 are provided with bearing suifaces 92 and 94 inclined at substantially the same angle as the adjacent sides 80 and 82 of recess 78. The upper surface of pawl 88 is provided with a centrally positioned slot 96 running substantially normal to the envelope of the pawl teeth. A shift element 98 is mounted for rotary movement in the surface of body member 74 with the upper surface of shift element 98 contaning a V-shaped groove 100. One end of a control element 162 is received within the V-shaped groove 100 of shift element 98 and the other end in the slot 96 of pawl 88. Control element 102 is shown in FIGURE 5 as being of rigid construction. As shown in FIGURE 5, slot 96 is made sufficiently wide such that the control element 102 contacts the pawl at essentially one point. When shift element 98 is moved to the clockwise position, as shown, one edge of the V- groove contacts the control element 102 with force F applying a force F to pawl 88. The force F is in a direction which intersects the bearing surface of the recess at an acute angle with the bearing surface. The vertex of the angle is pointed toward the upper side of the recess 78 or toward the side confronting the ratchet teeth 86. Force F acting at an angle to the side 82 of recess 78 and the bearing surface 94 of pawl 88, urges the pawl into releasable engagement with the teeth 86 of body member 84. During the back stroke, the pawl has a translatory motion relative to the end of the control element 102 engaged thereby.

In FIGURE 6, the same elements are shown except that control element 102a is flexible. When shift elernent 98 is moved to the clockwise position, as shown, forces F and F are applied to pawl 88 resulting in a clockwise twist being given to the pawl. In this embodiment, slot 96 is very little wider than control element 102a, which makes two point contact with the pawl. The action of flexible control element 102a imparts an additional turning motion to the pawl relative tothe envelope of the teeth opposing the pawl and is to be preferred where it is desired to use a very wide pawl, that is one containing a large number of teeth and particularly where the tooth-containing surfaces are arcuate. Referring also to FIGURE 6 :and the bearing surfaces of the pawl, it should be noted that the angle is an obtuse angle to facilitate improved alignment of the pawl teeth with the ratchet teeth. Angle is that angle occurring between a straight portion of the pawl bearing surface and a line, shown dashed in FIGURE 6, drawn from a point thereon furthest removed from the pawl teeth to the furthest part of the pawl tooth opposite the bearing surface.

While there have been described what at present are considered to be the preferred embodiments of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention. It is aimed, there fore, in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a reversible ratchet mechanism, the combination of two body members mounted together for relative rotary motion, one of said body members having a cylindrical surface and the other of said body members having an arcuate surface, said surfaces being complementary and positioned one inside the other, said one body member having a series of ratchet teeth on the cylindrical surface thereof and said other body member having a recess therein confronting said ratchet teeth, a pawl carried in the recess having an arcuate side provided with a plurality of teeth, the teeth of said pawl being adapted to concurrent driving engagement with the ratchet teeth of said one body member, the pawl being sufficiently smaller than the recess to permit circumferential displacement therein as well as withdrawal of the pawl from the ratchet teeth of said one body member, said pawl having an inclined hearing surface on each end of the arcuate side of the pawl with each bearing surface being generally inclined toward the other in a direction away from the arcuate side of the pawl, said recess having two bearing surfaces positioned to engage the pawl bearing surfaces, one recess bearing surface serving as the thrust bearing for one driving direction and the other recess bearing surface serving as the thrust bearing for the other driving direction, and control means for urging the pawl into reversible driving engagement with the ratchet teeth of said one body member, said control means comprising a flexible and resilient control element engaging the pawl centrally of said pawl teeth for urging the pawl selectively against either bearing surface of the recess, said control means further. including a manually operable shift element mounted on said other body member for rotary movement and engaging said control element such that on manual rotation of said shift element said control element is angularly displaced to urge the pawl against a selected bearing surface of the recess.

2. In a reversible ratchet mechanism, the combination of two body members slidably mounted together for movement with respect to each other, one of said body members having a surface provided with a series of ratchet teeth, the other body member having a surface closely confronting said ratchet teeth and providing with a recess therein, a pawl carried in the recess having a side provided with a plurality of teeth, the teeth of pawl being adapted to concurrent driving engagement with the ratchet teeth-of said one body member, the pawl being sufficiently smaller than the recess to permit displacement thereof in a direction paralleling the envelope of the ratchet teeth as well as normal thereto, said pawl having two ends forming bearing surfaces with each bearing surface being generally inclined toward the other in a direction away from the side having teeth, said recess having two bearing surfaces positioned to engage the pawl bearing surfaces, one recess bearing surface serving as the thrust bearing for one driving direction and the other recess bearing surface serving as the thrust bearing for the other driving direction, and control means for bringing the pawl into reversible driving engagement with the ratchet teeth of said one body member, said control means including shiftable means engaging the pawl for directing the pawl toward either selected bearing surface of the recess, said shiftable means being arranged to urge the pawl against a selected bearing surface of the recess so that the reaction between the pawl and the bearing surface of the recess causes the pawl to slide along the bearing surface in a direction bringing the pawl into releasable engagement with the ratchet teeth of said one body member, said control means including manually operable means engaging the shiftable means for laterally shifting said shiftable means relative to the recess, whereby the pawl is directed toward a selected one of the bearing surfaces of the recess, said shiftable means having freedom of movement relative to at least one of said pawl and said manually operable means in a direction substantially normal to the envelope of the pawl teeth.

3. In a ratchet mechanism, the combination of two body members slidably mounted together for movement with respect to each Other, one of said body members having a surface provided with a series of ratchet teeth, a pawl having a side provided with a plurality of teeth adapted to concurrent driving engagement with the ratchet teeth of said one body member, said pawl being carried by the other of said body members in position for the pawl teeth to releasably engage the ratchet teeth of said one body member, said pawl having one end forming a bearing surface, said other body member having a bearing surface positioned to engage the bearing surface of the pawl and receive the thrust of the pawl, and control means for bringing the pawl into releasable engagement with the ratchet teeth of said one body member, said control means including yieldable guide means acting between the pawl and said other body member, one of said guide means and pawl having spaced substantially parallel surfaces, the other of said guide means and pawl having a coacting portion closely fitted to and adapted to slidable movement with respect to the parallel surfaces whereby the pawl is constrained to move in a direction determined by the parallel surfaces and coacting portion.

4. In a ratchet mechanism, the combination of two body members slidably mounted together for movement with respect to each other, one of said body members having a surface provided with a series of ratchet teeth, a pawl having a side provided with a plurality of teeth adapted to concurrent driving engagement with the ratchet teeth of said one body member, said pawl being carried by the other of said body members in position for the pawl teeth to releasably engage the ratchet teeth of said one body member, said pawl having one end forming a bearing surface, said other body member having a hearing surface positioned to engage the bearing surface of the pawl and receive the thrust of the pawl, and control means for bringing the pawl into releasable engagement with the ratchet teeth of said one body member, said control means including yieldable guide means acting between the pawl and said other body member, said guide means being so arranged and connected to said pawl as to orient the pawl for translatory motion relative to said guide means during the back stroke, said guide means having a resilient action on the pawl to permit the bearing surface of said other body member and the ratchet teeth of said one body member to determine the engaged position of the pawl for the driving stroke.

5. In a reversible ratchet mechanism, the combination of two body members slidably mounted together for movement with respect to each other, one of said body members having a surface provided with a series of ratchet teeth, the other body member having a surface closely confronting said ratchet teeth provided with a recess therein, a pawl carried in the recess having a top and bottom surface and a side joining said pawl surfaces provided with a plurality of teeth, the teeth of the pawl being adapted to concurrent driving engagement with the ratchet teeth of said one body member, the pawl being smaller than the recess to permit displacement thereof in a direction paralleling the envelope of the ratchet teeth as well as normal thereto, said pawl having two ends forming bearing surfaces with each bearing surface being generally inclined toward the other in a direction away from the side having teeth, said recess having two bearing surfaces positioned to engage the pawl bearing surfaces, one recess bearing surface being adapted to receive the thrust of the pawl for one direction and the other recess bearing surface being adapted to receive the thrust of the pawl for the other direction, said pawl having a centralrecess therein located intermediate said top and bottom surfaces of the pawl and positioned along a line normal to the envelope of the pawl teeth at approximately the midpoint of the pawl teeth, said recess of the pawl being accessible from a direction opposite to the side of the pawl having teeth, and control means for bringing the pawl into reversible driving engagement with the ratchet teeth of said one body member, said control means including shiftable means having an end portion adapted to be received in said central recess of the pawl, said control means further including means for positioning said shiftable means so that the said end portion of the shiftable means has two operative positionsrelative to said other body member, said shiftable means holding the pawl toward one bearing surface of the recess when in one of said operative positions and holding the pawl toward the other bearing surface of said recess when in the other operative position.

6. In a reversible ratchet mechanism, the combination of two body members slidably mounted together for movement with respect to each other, one of said body members having a surface provided with a series of ratchet teeth, the other body member having a surface confronting said ratchet teeth provided with a recess therein, a pawl carried in the recess having a side provided with a plurality of teeth, the teeth of the pawl being adapted to concurrent driving engagement with the ratchet teeth of said one body member, the pawl being smaller than the recess to permit displacement thereof in a direction paralleling the envelope of the ratchet teeth as well as normal thereto, said pawl having two ends forming bearing surfaces with each bearing surface being generally inclined toward the other .in a direction away from the side having teeth, said recess having two bearing surfaces positioned to engage the pawl bearing surfaces, one recess bearing surface receiving the thrust of the pawl for one driving direction and the other recess hearing surface receiving the thrust of the pawl for the other driving direction, and control means for bringing the pawl into reversible driving engagement with the teeth of said one body member, said control means including manually operable means for determining the direction of ratchet driving, said control means further including a spring having two ends, one end of the spring engaging the pawl centrally of the pawl teeth for shifting the pawl from one bearing surface of said recess to the other bearing surface of said recess, the other end of said spring being operatively connected to said manually operable means, said manually operable means being arranged on actuation to move the last-named end of said spring in such a way that the shifting action of said spring on the pawl is reversed, whereby the pawl is selectively shifted from one bearing surface of said recess to the other.

7. I a reversible ratchet mechanism, the combination of two body members slidably mounted together for movement with respect to each other, one of said body members having a surface provided with a series of ratchet teeth, a pawl having a side provided with a plurality of teeth adapted to concurrent driving engagement with the ratchet teeth of said one body member, said pawl being carried by the other of said body members in a position opposite to and confronting the ratchet teeth of said one body member for releasable engagement with said ratchet teeth, said pawl having two bearing surfaces generally inclined toward each other in a direction away from the side provided with teeth, said other body member having two bearing surfaces positioned to engage the bearing surfaces of the pawl for receiving the thrust of the pawl for both driving directions, the bearing surfaces of said other body member having an inclination similar to the inclination of the pawl bearing surfaces, the bearing surfaces of said other body member being spaced farther apart than the bearing surfaces of the pawl to permit lateral movement of the pawl relative to said other body member and disengagement from the ratchet teeth of said one body member, and control means for bringing the pawl into reversible engagement with the ratchet teeth of said one body member, said control means including yieldable means operatively connecting the pawl and said other body member for selectively urging the pawl into engagement with either bearing surface of said other body member, said yieldable means being arranged to exert a resilient force on the pawl in a direction forming an acute angle with the bearing surface of said other body member engaging the pawl with the vertex of said angle toward the ratchet teeth of said one body member confronting the pawl, said yieldable means being arranged and operatively connected to the pawl in a manner to substantially avoid a component of force from the yieldable means resiliently urging the pawl directly against the rachet teeth of said one body member, said control means including manually operable means for reversing the direction of said yieldable means to selectively urge the pawl against either bearing surface of said other body member.

8. A ratchet mechanism according to claim 7, wherein said yieldable means is so connected to the pawl that the pawl may have free relative movement with respect to said yieldable means in a direction perpendicular to the envelope of said pawl teeth through the midpoint thereof, whereby a component of force from the yieldable means resiliently urging the pawl directly against the ratchet teeth of said one body member is substantially avoided.

9. In a reversible ratchet mechanism, the combination of two body members mounted together for rotative movement with respect to each other, one of said body members having a cylindrical surface provided with a series of ratchet teeth, a pawl having an arcuate face provided with a plurality of teeth, said pawl being carried by the other of said body members in position for the pawl teeth to engage and disengage the ratchet teethof said one body member, all of said pawl teeth being used for driving in either selected direction, said pawl having two sides, forming bearing surfaces, which are generally inclined toward each other in a direction away from the face of the pawl provided with teeth, said other body member having two bearing surfaces positioned to engage the bearing surfaces of said pawl whereby the pawl may transmit thrust in either driving direction,

the bearing surfaces of said other body member being spaced to permit angular and radial displacement of the pawl, and control means for bringing the pawl into reversible driving engagement with the ratchet teeth of said one body member, said control means including a control element for selectively urging the pawl into a selected extreme position limited only by engagement of the pawl with either bearing surface of said other body member, said control means further including means for positioning said control element so that the control element exerts a continuously-acting resultant force on the pawl, when the pawl is in either selected extreme position, said force having a direction forming an acute angle with the bearing surface of said other body engaged by the pawl member so that the pawl is urged in sliding engagement against the last-named bearing surface of said other body member and into yieldable engagement with the ratchet teeth of said one body member.

10. In a reversible ratchet mechanism, the combination of two body members slidably mounted together for movement with respect to each other, one of said body members having a surface provided with a series of ratchet teeth, the other body member having a surface which in large part confronts said ratchet teeth and is provided with a recess therein, a pawl carried in said recess, said pawl having a top and bottom surface and a side joining said pawl surfaces provided with a row of teeth, said teeth of the pawl being adapted for driving engagement with the ratchet teeth of said one body member, the pawl being so dimensioned with relation to the recess as to permit displacement thereof in a direction paralleling the envelope of said ratchet teeth as well as displacement in a direction normal to the envelope of said ratchet teeth, said pawl having two ends forming bearing surfaces with each bearing surface being generally inclined toward the other in a direction away from the pawl side having teeth, said recess having two bearing surfaces positioned to engage the pawl bearing surfaces, one recess bearing surface being adapted to receive the thrust of the pawl for one direction of driving and the other recess bearing surface being adapted to receive the thrust of the pawl for the other direction of driving, said pawl having a pawl recess located intermediate said top and bottom surfaces of the pawl and positioned along a line normal to the envelope of the pawl teeth and adjacent the midpoint of said row of pawl teeth, said pawl recess being accessible from a direction opposite to the side of the pawl having teeth, and control means for bringing the pawl into reversible driving engagement with the ratchet teeth of said one body member, said control means including shiftable means having an end portion adapted to be received in said pawl recess, the length of the said pawl recess in a direction normal to the envelope of the pawl teeth being greater than the length of the end portion of the shiftable means received in said pawl recess, whereby the pawl may move relative to the said end portion of the shiftable means in a direction predominantly normal to the envelope of the pawl teeth during a back stroke, said control means further including means for positioning said shiftable means so that the said end portion of the shiftable means has two operative positions relative to said other body member, said shiftable means holding the pawl toward one bearing surface of the recess when in one of said operative positions and holding the pawl toward the other bearing surface of said recess when in the other operative position.

11. In a wrench, the combination comprising a body member having a head and a handle, said head being formed with a cylindrical opening, a rotatable member journalled in said opening, one of said members being formed with a plurality of ratchet teeth, the other of said members having a wedge-shaped cavity communicating with the periphery of said rotatable member, a wedgeshaped pawl positioned in said cavity, said pawl being formed with an arcuate row of teeth adapted to engage the said ratchet teeth, each side of said pawl being adapted to engage a side of said cavity to limit the circumferential movement of said pawl between a first extreme circumferential position to a second extreme circumferential position, a pin, said other member having a transversely extending opening spaced from the axis of rotation of said rotatable member and rotatably supporting said pin and having a passageway communicating with said cavity, a spring, said pawl being formed with an opening into which one end of said spring projects, said pin being formed with an opening into which the other end of said spring projects, said pin being rotatable between two positions to shift said pawl through said spring between said first and second extreme circumferential positions, whereby in each circumferential position the further circumferential movement of said pawl in one direction is prevented by engagement of the side of said pawl with the side of said cavity while circumferential movement in the opposite direction and radial movement is yieldingly resisted by the action of said spring, and means for locking said pin in one or the other of said positions.

12. In a ratchet wrench, the combination of a member having an opening, a rotatable member mounted in said opening, one of said members having a circular series of radially extending ratchet teeth, said ratchet teeth having load surfaces inclined away from a radial line whereby compressional forces may be transmitted through said ratchet teeth, the other of said members having a recess open to said ratchet teeth, said recess having two sides converging toward each other in a direction away from said ratchet teeth, at least one of said sides of the recess forming a bearing surface for receiving thrust, a pawl carried in the recess, the pawl being of smaller size than the recess to permit radial and circumferential movement of the pawl in the recess, said pawl having an arcuate side provided with a plurality of teeth, said pawl teeth being adapted to mate with said ratchet teeth for concurrent driving engagement with said ratchet teeth during the driving stroke, said pawl having two sides extending generally from said arcuate side of the pawl inclined toward each other and converging in a direction away from said arcuate side of the pawl, one of said last-named converging pawl sides being adapted to engage said hearing surface of the recess for transmitting thrust to said other member, and control means for urging the pawl into ratcheting engagement with said ratchet teeth, said control means comprising a spring having two ends, said pawl having an opening directed toward said arcuate side of the pawl and formed along a radial direction with the pawl positioned for full engagement with said ratchet teeth, one end of said spring being entered in said opening of the pawl, said control means including a pin mounted on said other member and receiving the other end of said spring, said pin positioning the spring to exert a force on the pawl directed at an angle to said bearing surface of the recess urging the pawl to slide against said bearing surface toward said ratchet teeth.

13. In a ratchet wrench, the combination of a member having an opening, a rotatable member mounted in said opening, one of said members having a circular series of radially extending ratchet teeth, the other of said members having a recess open to said ratchet teeth, said recess having two sides inclined toward each other and converging in a direction away fro-m said ratchet teeth, at least one of said sides of the recess forming a bearing surface for receiving thrust, a pawl carried in the recess of smaller size than the recess to permit radial and circumferential movement of the pawl in the recess, said pawl having an arcuate side provided with a plurality of teeth adapted to mate with the ratchet teeth of said one member, all of said pawl teeth being used for the driving stroke, said pawl having two sides extending generally from the arcuate side of the pawl, a predominant portion of said two sides of the pawl forming two surfaces converging in a direction away from the arcuate side of the pawl, one of said surfaces of the pawl being adapted to engage said bearing surface of the recess for transmitting the thrust of the pawl to said other member, and control means for urging the pawl into ratcheting engagement with said'ratchet teeth, said control means comprising a spring having two ends, said spring having a cantilever-type action, said control means including means acting between the spring and said other member receiving one end of said spring for positioning said spring, the other end of said spring engaging the pawl, said spring being positioned by said last-named means so that the pawl is urged against said bearing surface of the recess by the cantilever action of said spring, said spring being so positioned that the cantilever action of the spring directs a force on the pawl at an angle to said bearing surface of the recess to urge the pawl to slide against said bearing surface of the recess toward said ratchet teeth.

14. In a ratchet wrench, the combination of a member having an opening, a rotatable member mounted in said opening, one of said members having a circular series of ratchet teeth, the other of said members having a recess open to said ratchet teeth, said recess having two sides inclined toward each other in a direction away from said ratchet teeth, at least one of said sides of the recess forming a bearing surface for receiving thrust, a pawl carried in the recess, said pawl being dimensioned to permit radial and circumferential movement of the pawl in the recess, said pawl having an arcuate side provided with a plurality of teeth corresponding to the ratchet teeth of said one member, all of said pawl teeth being used for the driving stroke, said pawl having two opposing sides ex tending from the arcuate side of the pawl, a predominant portion of said opposing sides forming two surfaces converging in a direction away from the arcuate side of the pawl, one of said pawl surfaces being adapted to engage said bearing surface of the recess for transmitting the thrust of the pawl to said other member, and control means for urging the pawl into ratcheting engagement with said ratchet teeth, said control means comprising a spring engaging the pawl, said control means further comprising means acting between said spring and said other member for positioning said spring, said spring being positioned by said last-named means to exert a force on the pawl passing at an angle to said bearing surface of the recess to urge the pawl slidably against said bearing surface of the recess and toward said ratchet teeth, said spring being so engageable with said pawl as to permit clearance between the spring and the pawl in a radial direction with the pawl positioned against said bearing surface of the recess and in engagement with said ratchet teeth.

15. In a reversible ratchet wrench, the combination of a member having an opening, a rotatable member mounted in said opening, one of said members having a circular series of radially extending ratchet teeth, the other of said members having a recess open to said ratchet teeth, said recess having two bearing surfaces for receiving thrust, said bearing surfaces being inclined toward each other and converging in a direction away from said ratchet teeth, a pawl carried in the recess, said pawl being smaller than the recess to permit radial and circumferential movement of the pawl in the recess, said pawl having an arcuate side provided with a plurality of teeth adapted to concurrent mating engagement with said ratchet teeth, all of said pawl teeth being used for driving for both directions, said pawl having two surfaces inclined toward each other and converging in a direction away from the arcuate side of the pawl, said pawl surfaces being adapted to engage said bearing surfaces of the recess for transmitting the thrust of the pawl to said other member for both directions of driving, and control means for urging the pawl into reversible ratcheting engagement with said ratchet teeth, said control means including resilientlyacting means engageable with said pawl, said control means further including shiftable means disposed between said resiliently-acting means and said other member, said shiftable means having two selective positions with respect to said other member, said shiftable means being adapted to displace said resiliently-acting means to either of two operative positions on movement of said shiftable means from one selective position to the other, said resilientlyacting means being adapted to urge the pawl into engagement with one of said bearing surfaces on displacement to one of said operative positions and to urge the pawl into engagement with the other of said bearing surfaces on displacement to the other of said operative positions, said resiliently-acting means being positioned with respect to the pawl and operatively connected to the pawl to exert a resilient force on the pawl in a direction forming an acute angle with the bearing surface engaged by the pawl to urge the pawl slidably against the bearing surface engaged by the pawl toward said ratchet teeth.

16. In a reversible ratchet wrench, the combination of a member having an opening, a rotatable member mounted in said opening, one of said members having a circular series of radially extending ratchet teeth, the other of said members having a recess open to said ratchet teeth, said recess having two bearing surfaces for receiving thrust, said bearing surfaces being inclined toward each other and converging in a direction away from said ratchet teeth, a pawl carried in the recess, said pawl being smaller than the recess to permit radial and circumferential movement of the pawl in the recess, said pawl having an arcuate side provided Wtih a plurality of teeth adapted to concurrent mating engagement with said ratchet teeth, all of said pawl teeth being used for driving for both directions, said pawl having two surfaces inclined toward each other and converging in a direction away from the arcuate side of the pawl, said pawl surfaces being adapted to engage said bearing surfaces of the recess for transmitting the thrust of the pawl to said other member for both directions of driving, and control means for urging the pawl into reversible ratcheting engagement with said ratchet teeth, said control means including a spring having two ends, said control means further including manually shiftable means mounted on one of said members and having two selected positions with respect to said other member, said manually shiftable means and said pawl having openings for receiving the ends of said spring, said manually shiftable means being adapt-ed to hold said spring in operative relation to said pawl against the resistance of said spring so that the spring urges the pawl in one circumferential direction for one position of said manually shiftable means and urges the pawl in the opposite circumferential direction for the other position of said manually shiftable means, said control means including detent means disposed between said manually shiftable means and said other member arranged to retain said manually shiftable means in a selected position against the resistance of said spring.

17. In a wrench, the combination comprising a body member having a head and a handle, said head being formed with a cylindrical opening, a rotatable member journalled in said opening, one of said members being formed with a plurality of ratchet teeth, the other of said members having a wedge-shaped cavity communicating with the periphery of said rotatable member, a wedgeshaped pawl positioned in said cavity, said pawl being formed with an arcuate row of teeth adapted to engage said ratchet teeth, each side of said pawl being adapted to engage a side of said cavity to limit the circumferential movement of said pawl between a first extreme circumferential position to a second extreme circumferential position, shiftable means, said other member having a transversely extending opening rotatably supporting said shiftable means, spring means having ends, said shiftable means and said pawl being adapted to receive the ends of said spring means, said shiftable means being rotatable between two positions to shift said pawl through said spring means between said first and second extreme circumferential positions, whereby in each circumferential position the further circumferential movement of said pawl in one direction is prevented by engagement of the side of said pawl With the side of said cavity while circumferential movement in the opposite direction and radial movement is yieldingly resisted by the action of said spring means, and means for locking said shiftable means in one or the other of said positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,341,775 2/1944 Hawk 74-157 2,508,568 5/1950 Ellison 74-157 16 Knudson 74-157 X Austin 74157 Stiranka 74-157 Hare 81-632 Hare 8163.2 Kress -1 74157 Rueb 8163.2 Gagne 192-43.1

FRED C. MATTERN, JR., Primary Examiner.

DON A. WAITE, BROUGHTON G. DURHAM,

Examiners.

D. P. ROONEY, W. S. RATLIFF, Assistant Examiners.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,369,416 February 20, 1968 Luther E. Kilness It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, line 62, "contaning" should read containing Column 7, line 22, after "angle", first occurrence, insert line 24, after "Angle" insert Column 8, line 4, "providing" should read provided line 6, before "pawl" insert the Column 10, line 10, "I" should read In Column 11, line 15, cancel "member" and insert the same after "body" in line 14, same column 11. Column 14, line 29, "wtih" should read with Signed and sealed this 30th day of December 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

M. Fletcher, Jr. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN A REVERSIBLE RATCHET MECHANISM, THE COMBINATION OF TWO BODY MEMBERS MOUNTED TOGETHER FOR RELATIVE ROTARY MOTION, ONE OF THE SAID BODY MEMBERS HAVING A CYLINDRICAL SURFACE AND THE OTHER OF SAID BODY MEMBERS HAVING AN ARCUATE SURFACE, SAID SURFACE BEING COMPLEMENTARY AND POSITIONED ONE INSIDE THE OTHER, SAID ONE BODY MEMBER HAVING A SERIES OF RATCHET TEETH ON THE CYLINDRICAL SURFACE THEREOF AND SAID OTHER BODY MEMBER HAVING A RECESS THEREIN CONFRONTING SAID RATCHET TEETH, A PAWL CARRIED IN THE RECESS HAVING AN ARCUATE SIDE PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF TEETH, THE TEETH OF SAID PAWL BEING ADAPTED TO CONCURRENT DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RATCHET TEETH OF SAID ONE BODY MEMBER, THE PAWL BEING SUFFICIENTLY SMALLER THAN THE RECESS TO PERMIT CIRCUMFERENTIAL DISPLACEMENT THEREIN AS WELL AS WITHDRAWAL OF THE PAWL FROM THE RATCHET TEETH OF SAID ONE BODY MEMBER, SAID PAWL HAVING AN INCLINED BEARING SUFACE ON EACH END OF THE ARCUATE OF THE PAWL WITH EACH BEARING SURFACE BEING GENERALLY INCLINED TOWARD THE OTHER, IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE ARCUATE SIDE OF THE PAWL, SAID RECESS HAVING TWO BEARING SURFACES POSITIONED TO ENGAGE THE PAWL BEARING SURFACES, ONE RECESS BEARING SURFACE SERVING AS THE THRUST BEARING FOR ONE DRIVING DIRECTION AND THE OTHER RECESS BEARING SURFACE SERVING AS THE THRUST BEARING FOR THE OTHER DRIVING DIRECTION, AND CONTROL MEANS FOR URGING THE PAWL INTO REVERSIBLE DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RATCHET TEETH OF SAID ONE BODY MEMBER, SAID CONTROL MEANS COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE AND RESILIENT CONTROL ELEMENT ENGAGING THE PAWL CENTRALLY OF SAID PAWL TEETH FOR URGING THE PAWL SELECTIVELY AGAINST EITHER BEARING SURFACE OF THE RECESS, SAID CONTROL MEANS FURTHER INCLUDING A MANUALLY OPERABLE SHIFT ELEMENT MOUNTED ON SAID OTHER BODY MEMBER FOR ROTARY MOVEMENT AND ENGAGING SAID CONTROL ELEMENT SUCH THAT ON MANUAL ROTATION OF SAID SHIFT ELEMENT SAID CONTROL ELEMENT IS ANGULARLY DISPLACED TO URGE THE PAWL AGAINST A SELECTED BEARING SURFACE OF THE RECESS. 